Introduction to Financial and Economic Indices: From the S&P 500 to the Big Mac Index

This workshop will introduce participants to the concept of statistical indexing and composite statistics, how these indices are composed and used to measure and indicate changes in society. Examples covered will be stock indices; S&P 500 & Dow Jones Industrial Average, economic indices; Misery Index &Consumer Confidence Index, and social science indices like the Heat Index, Wind Chill Index, and the Big Mac Index. The workshop will use Bloomberg Professional, and entail some hands on work.